Kevin Steele announces bid for Florida CFO, challenging key DeSantis ally

Republican state Rep. Kevin Steele of Pasco County announced a bid for chief financial officer on Tuesday, mounting a challenge to a key ally of Gov. Ron DeSantis.

CFO Blaise Ingoglia, also a Republican, has been in the post since July after being appointed by DeSantis. Steele entering the race means Ingoglia’s getting a real Republican challenger at a moment of some intrigue.

There’s only one statewide race in 2026 in which President Donald Trump has not endorsed a candidate: chief financial officer. If Steele were to win the president’s approval, it could be a game-changer in the Republican primary for the seat.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

“I’ve spent my career building companies from the ground up, fixing broken systems, and getting results,” Steele said in a statement announcing his candidacy. “I’ll bring that same America First, results-driven mindset to protect taxpayers and make Florida more affordable and stronger than ever.”

This is a breaking news story that will be updated.